ONE person has been airlifted from the scene of a horror crash at Pineapple Hill, south of Maryborough, about 8pm on Friday.

Nine others were injured in the head-on smash between a van and a hatchback on the Bruce Hwy.

Head of the Wide Bay Forensic Crash Unit Sergeant Steve Webb said the crash site "looked like a war zone" when he arrived, with several people suffering serious injuries in the crash, including internal injuries and broken bones.

He said the van was carrying six young people on their way from Gladstone to a 21st birthday party on the Sunshine Coast.

Queensland Ambulance Service Wide Bay acting senior operations supervisor Derek Hegh said some of the crash victims had suffered potentially life-threatening injuries and some of the passengers had been trapped in the vehicles.

"There were a variety of injuries, including multi-trauma injuries and minor injuries," he said.

Despite the severe injuries suffered by some of the passengers, Sgt Webb was thankful the crash had not resulted in any fatalities.

"We're very, very lucky tonight, very lucky at the moment," Sgt Webb said.

A passenger had to be cut out of the white Toyota Hiace van, which was carrying six people, while four people had to be cut out of the Toyota Yaris hatchback, which had rolled down an embankment onto its roof after leaving the road.

Sgt Webb said initial investigations indicated the van had come over a rise in the road and traffic had been backed up behind a B-double that had stopped to turn right into Old Gympie Rd.

The driver of the van is believed to have taken evasive action to try to avoid the traffic in front of it, braked and veered over double white lines, colliding with the red hatchback.

Sgt Webb said the crash was still under investigation.

The hatchback was also believed to be carrying a group of young adults.

Sgt Webb said alcohol was definitely not a factor in the crash.

The highway was closed for several hours.

Sgt Webb urged motorists to drive carefully.

"Drive to the conditions and drive with proper care," he said.

Forensic crash investigators at the scene of a head-on crash at Pineapple Hill, south of Maryborough.Tracey Joynson